X-ray table accessory



Aug. 7, W YM LEE 'X-RAY TABLE ACCESSORY W III.

Filed June 21, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Win/AM N. Ls:

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United States PatentO X-RAY TABLE ACCESSORY William M. Lee, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to Picker X-Ray Corporation, Waite Mfg. Div. Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 21, 1955, Serial No. 516,988

11 Claims. (Cl. 311-11) This invention relates to X-ray apparatus generally and more particularly relates to an improved X-ray tilt-table construction having a detachable accessory adapted for use as a foot-rest or as an end extension for the table depending upon whether the table is disposed in vertical or horizontal position.

In practice, it is desirable to provide an adjustable foot rest for supporting a patient in predetermined vertical position relative to an X-ray beam. In conventional X-ray apparatus it is preferable to combine such a foot rest with the tilt-table for cooperative support when the table is disposed in vertical position. It is also desirable to have an adjustable table extension which can be used when the table is horizontally disposed, preferably, the foot rest and table extension should be removable to permit use of the table without either.

Accordingly it is the principal object of this invention to provide a detachable accessory for an X-ray tilt-table which may be adjusted from an extended position parallel to the table surface to a position normal to the table surface for use as a foot rest.

A further object of this invention relates to the pro- Vision of a detachable end extension for an X-ray table which has a selectively extensible connection to the table.

Briefly, in accordance with this invention there'is provided a detachable accessory in the form of an end extension for an X-ray tilt-table which can be selectively positioned transversely of the plane of the table to provide a foot rest when the table is tilted vertically. The accessory also has a support adapted for selectively extensible coaction with the table and utilizes a self-contained arrangement for releasably latching it in the foot rest position.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an X-ray tilt-table embodying the present invention and showing the table invertical position;

Fig. 2 illustrates one end of the table with the detachable accessory disposed in table extending position;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the detachable accessory embodying the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of the table accessory and latch mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the table accessory illustrating the inactive position; and

Fig. 6 is a partial view of a table engaging latch illustrating a spring bias for maintaining the latch active.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings there is shown an X-ray table 10 mounted on a base 12 for tilting movement between a horizontal and vertical position. The X-ray apparatus includes a column 14 movable in the direction of the table length along one side of the table 10 and carrying beneath the table an Xray tube (not shown) and above the table a fluoroscopic housing 15 which may be used for fluoroscopy or radiography. The table 10 includes a flat patient supportting top surface 11 having a marginal frame formed from channel-like members 13 which are notched as at- 14 2,757,997 Patented Aug. 7, 1956 adjacent each end of the table for adjustable interlocking coaction with a latch 16 carried by a detachable table accessory. This accessory is in the form of a table extension which can be positioned transverse to the plane of the table 10 and latched in position to serve as a foot rest when the table is tilted vertically.

In its preferred form the table accessory 20 includes a planular member 21 having inwardly turned longitudinal edges and openends adapted to be closed by suitable end plates 22 and 23 which extend beyond the inner longitudinal edge to form trunnion-like supports for channellike arms 25 and 26. Arms 25 and 26 are pivotally connected to the extended end-plates and have the same channel configuration as the table frame members 13, except that they are larger and designed to have the table frame members'seat therein. Thus, the arms 25 and 26 may be slidably coupled to the end of the table frame and secured in any one of several extended positions by means of the latch 16 carried by each arm.

Each latch 16 includes a plate 27 pivotally connected at one end to the corresponding arm and having two dogeared portions 28 and 29 at its other extremity, one of which is adapted to seat in a slot 3-0 in the bottom of the arm channel and the other of which overhangs a beveled top edge of the arm channel. The slot 3% permits the lower dog-cared portion 28 to engage an aligned notch in the bottom of the corresponding table frame member 13, and each plate 27 is biased upwardly by a leaf spring 31 in the manner shown in Fig. 6 so that positive depressing action-is required to disengage the lower dog-eared portion 28 from the notch. Thus, the arms 25 and 26 together with the member 21 may be slidably adjusted along the length of the table 10 and secured in any selected position corresponding to the notches id in the bottom of the table frame members 13.

In order that the table accessory 20 may serve the additional purpose of providing a foot rest when the table is positioned vertically, each arm 25 and 26 carries a fixed cam surface in the form of a notched disc 33 (Fig. 2) for latching coaction with a plunger 35. Each plunger is slideably disposed in a bracket 36 on the corresponding planular surface 21 for axial movement towards and away from the periphery of the notched disc A suitable spring 37 surrounds each plunger and coacts between the frame bracket 36 and a pin 38 on the plunger to maintain the plunger in engagement wit the disc. Each disc 33 has one beveled notch 3h for receiving the plunger 35 when the planular surface 21 is disposed horizontally and another substantially U-shaped notch 46 circumferentially spaced from the beveled notch 39 for receiving and holding the plunger 35 when the planular surface is pivoted to a position transverse to the plane of the table. The notch 39 is beveled in only one direction to permit free sliding movement of the plunger 35 along the disc in that direction while preventing movement in the opposite direction. Thus, although the member 21 may be freely rotated into vertical position, it is necessary to retract the plungers 35 in order to free the member 21 for movement from the vertical position.

Retraction of the plungers 35 is preferably accomplished by an interconnected system of levers 44 and 45, each of which is pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the member 21. as shown at 46 in Fig. 4, one side only being illustrated in detail. These pivotal connections are spaced from each other lengthwise of the member 21 and are aligned sothat the levers 44 and 45 can be aligned in end to end relation, the adjacent ends being pivotally interconnected at 48. The free end 50 of each lever is in the form of a yoke adapted to coact in extended position adjacent the corresponding end-plate to encircle an upstanding pin 51 on the inner extremity of the-corresponding plunger 35. 'Thus, when the pivoted interconnection 48 between the levers 44 and 45 is broken, the yoke end '50 of each lever will swing about the corresponding pivot 46 to retract the pin 51 and plunger 35 against the spring bias and out of engagement with the notched disc 33. A channe'Hike bracket '53 carries the interconnecting pivot pin 48 and is accessible below the member 21 for manual manipulation. Once the plungers 35 are retracted, the member 21 can be dropped into the tablesextending position of Fig. '2 or otherwise folded over onto the arm supports 25 and 26 as shown in Fig. 5. When the member 21 is rotated into the position of Fig. it may be pressed downward against the latch plate 27 which carries a resilient button on the top portion 29 to release the port-ion 28 from engagement with the notched table frame member 13. Then, the entire accessory assembly can be slid off the end of the table and stored for future use.

Thus, there has been provided a detachable .table accessory which can be quickly and easily attached or .removed from the table 10 and which can be positioned to provide a table extension when the table is in horizontal position or a foot rest when the table is in vertical position. Provision is also made .for extensible adjustment of the accessory along the plane of the table.

1 have shown and described what I consider to be the preferred embodiments of my invention along with suggested modifications, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An accessory for an X-ray table top comprising, a planular member, means for detachably mounting said member at one end of the table top to form an extension thereof, said means including a pivotal connection with the member to permit rotation of the member into a plane transverse to the table top to provide a foot rest, and releasable means for automatically securing said member in said last-mentioned position.

2. An accessory for an X-ray table top comprising, a planular member, a pair of spaced parallel arm supports for detachably mounting said member at one end of the table top to form an extension thereof, said member being pivotally coupled on a common axis through the arm supports for rotation into a plane transverse to the table top to provide a foot rest, and releasable means adapted for selective coaction between said member and an arm support to automatically secure the member in the table extending and foot rest positions respectively.

3. The accessory of claim 2 wherein said planular member has inwardly turned longitudinal edges disposed parallel to the pivotal axis and wherein each end thereof is enclosed with an end plate, each end plate extending beyond one common longitudinal edge of said member to form a trunnion-like support adapted to be pivotally coupled to the arm supports respectively, and said releasable means being disposed at an end of said planular member on the inwardly turned surface and adapted to be enclosed by the corresponding end plate.

4. The table accessory of claim 2 wherein said lastmentioned means includes an axially movable plunger and a fixed cam surface adapted to selectively coact in releasable latching engagement to hold said member in the table extending and foot rest positions respectively, means on said cam surface for automatically releasing said latching engagement as the planular member is rotated from a table extending to a foot rest position, and other means for manually releasing said latching engagement to return said member to the table extending position.

5. The table accessory of claim 2 wherein said lastmentioned means includes an axially movable plunger carried by the planular member for movement in the plane of said member and transverse to the pivotal axis, a disc carried by the pivoted end of the arm support concentric with the pivotal axis and having circumferenti'aIIIy spaced notches in its peripheral edge for receiving and engaging the plunger, one of said notches being located for alignment with the plunger when the member is disposed parallel to the plane of the table and the other notch being located for plunger alignment when the member is disposed transverse to the plane of the table, and means biasing the plunger axially toward engagement with the peripheral edge of the disc, a peripheral edge "of said one notch being beveled toward the other notch to permit free sliding movement of the plunger toward said other notch, whereby said planular member may be positioned transverse to the plane of the table in one direction without retracting said plunger, and means for retracting the plunger.

6. An accessory for an X-ray table top comprising, a planular member, a pair of spaced parallel arm supports for detachably mounting said member at one end of the table top to form an extension thereof, said member being pivotal ly coupled on a common axis through the arm supports for rotation into a plane transverse to the table top to provide a foot rest, an axially movable plunger on said member and a fixed cam surface on an arm support adapted to selectively coact in releasable latching engagement to hold the member in the table extending and foot rest positions respectively, means biasing said plunger toward engagement with said cam surface, and a lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said member and having one extremity coupled to the plunger, whereby said plunger may be retracted from the cam surface by manipulation of the lever.

7. The accessory of claim 6 wherein said fixed cam surface is duplicated on each arm support and said planular member carries a pair of axially movable plungers each located for independent coaction with a different cam surface respectively, and wherein said lever is duplicated for independent coaction with each plunger respectively with the free extremities of the levers being .pivotally interconnected through a lost motion connection and each lever extends in an opposite direction towards the corresponding plunger, whereby said levers are aligned in end to end relation when the plungers engage the corresponding cam surfaces and operate to retract the plungers when they are mis-aligned by displacing the pivotal interconnection between the levers.

8. An accessory for an X-ray table top comprising, a planular member, a pair of spaced parallel arm supports carried by the member and adapted for detachably mounting said member at one end of the table top to form an extension thereof, each arm support having releasable latch means adapted for selective coaction with the table top to permit adjustment of the member along the plane of the table top.

9. The accessory of 'claim 8 wherein said planular member is pivotally coupled on a common axis through the arm supports for rotation in a plane transverse to the table top, and means adapted for coaction between the latch means and the planular member when said member is rotated into position overlying the arm supports to release t-he latch means.

10. In combination, an X-ray table having a top with inwardly facing channel-shaped side members disposed along each longitudinal edge, each side member having a plurality of notches spaced longitudinally inward from one end, a planular member, a pair of parallel spaced arm supports adapted to detachably mount said member on said one end of the table top and form an extension thereof, said member being pivotally coupled on a common axis through the arm supports for rotation into a plane transverse to the table top to provide a foot rest, each arm support being channel-shaped and adapted to encompass and be guided by the table top side members, a latch member pivotally mounted on each arm support and having means for engaging the notches in the corresponding "side member when in one pivoted position, and

releasable means biasing each latch member into said one pivoted position to secure the planular member and arm supports in fixed position on the table top corresponding to the engaged notches.

11. An accessory for an X-ray table top comprising, a planular member, a pair of spaced parallel arm supports for detachably mounting the member at one end of the tabletop to form an extension thereof, said arm supports having means including a releasable latch adapted for selective coaction with the table top to permit adjustment of the member along the plane of the table top, said member being pivotally coupled on a common axis through the arm supports for rotation into a plane transverse to the table top to provide a foot rest, and releasable means adapted for selective coaction between the member and the arm supports to automatically secure said member in the table extending and foot rest positions respectively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,622,313 Cellhorn Mar. 29, 1927 1,710,475 Gallowitz Apr. 23, 1929 1,749,867 Allison Mar. 11, 1930 2,067,891 Comper Jan. 19, 1937 2,543,451 Fenander Feb. 27, 1951 2,577,177 Anderson Dec. 4, 1951 2,735,738 Beme Feb. 21, 1956 

